Need Wood truss engineer for Nevada 23

[jepps3]

Hello. I’m looking for engineered flat roof wood truss design for a single family home in Nevada.

I know truss manufacturers can provide this, but I don’t want them to design. I would like to get the design drawings independently and then send out to manufacture.

 

[jepps3]

I had a thought and just had to throw this in. Technically, asking RonTheRedneck if he had checked deflections would be the same as asking him to check if fishes swim!!

Come on guys, do you really think RonTheRedneck is just slapping some popsicle sticks together with hot glue and telling developers that its strong enough hold a skyscraper??? I dont think he cheated on his college tests to get his degree in engineering. Would it really provide you with painful agony, torment and outright torture for you guys to imagine that maybe, JUST MAYBE, he was trying to try something innovative and creative that might save some money, AND STILL PASS, for builders and end consumers?

Ladies and (mostly) Gentlemen..... lets give RontheRedneck a standing ovation for being the ONE who put forth the good ol' American ambition to solve problems!!!

 

[Luceid]

I need to stop opening this thread - the daily eye roll is starting to have lasting impacts

 

[jepps3]

@Ludeid - Will you join the forces of good and support our brother who is under attack?

 

[Luceid]

I don't think anyone is under attack - I think 1503 just wanted to vet the results based on his eng judgement. Truss seemed shallow - so he asked about the deflections. Nothing out of the ordinary imo

 

[Rabbit12]

jepps, I do not believe Ron is an engineer. Pre-engineered truss designer, yes, but not an engineer.

 

[BridgeSmith]

Awww, you ruined the fun, Rabbit12.

 

[jepps3]

Ooooooh!! What if Ron is really a full blown engineer. He’s gonna be pissed when he sees that comment….. ooof ooof!!

 

[LittleInch]

In This Post he says he only has a HS diploma.

https://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=494551

To be clear there is absolutely nothing wrong in that one little bit.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[RWW0002]

I am not sure that Ron needs any defending.. He has stated specifically in the past that he is not a licensed engineer but is a specifier/truss designer that works for a truss company. Based on his past comments he appears to extremely competent and thorough in his approach to truss design and his input in this forum is invaluable. Whether he only has a HS diploma or a PhD, he can run circles around many engineers when it comes to his specific skillset.

With that said, his competency and thoroughness to his designs is not always the case with truss companies/designers, and even with careful attention to detail and an above-average understanding of truss design, engineers are still necessary in the process. You don't know what you don't know... this is true for the designers that are not engineers and for the engineers that are not in the day-to-day of truss input/output.

By the way Ron, your comment on "service and quality" is spot on. Many of us have been underbid based on less than scrupulous competition..

One of the problems with a delegated design component-based systems (like PEMB, wood truss, etc..) is that competition whittles down these commodities to whatever silly thing the next guy down the street is doing. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worst. Costs for things like extra bracing (temporary or permanent), quirky installation details, and costs to other trades get lost in the mix. Incorrect loads, performance criteria, and design criteria get used all the time, sometimes without anyone paying attention to where the components are actually being used. Many times the end user may pay more in the end for a "cheap" design. A good engineer in the mix can sometimes help steer things in a direction that is best for the overall project

@jepps3 - I don't think many users on here undervalue Ron. My comment was out of pure curiosity from and I was seeking input from a talented and knowledgeable designer. I assume the same may be true of the other comments that were seen as critical. And all of us engineers on here area used to being seen as the "necessary evil" and to hearing comments from contractors and developers about how everything would be so much better and cheaper if we would just keep our mouths shut and stop worrying so much... that is until something fails..

 

[jepps3]

RW00002 - completely understood, and your point is well graciously taken.

The one thing that I would like to point out is that we all love view Ron’s demeanor, and helpfulness in high regard.

I’m just gonna say it, Ron’s character and attitude blows away even some of the most highly refined, PhD, Nobel prize winning engineers out there.

If Ron ever got his degree in engineering, I would imagine he would be one successful ass Individual.

 

[jepps3]

One more thing, I want to make it clear that developers may appear to want to tape yours mouths……BUT, and this is a HUGE BUT, developers don’t really want to invite a huge lawsuit later on because a building fell down.

What they really want is a RonTheRedneck character who appears to be inline with the mindset with developers and find innovative ways to create solutions that may reduce costs and still provide a safe and sound structure.

Unfortunately, Some engineers way overbuild to cover their butts by a factor of a 100 just to be shielded by liability at the expense to a developer and the end consumer.

Don’t design a truss meant for a 200ft span that’s meant to have semi trucks parked on top of it when it’s only 20 ft span with light loads just to “make sure” your liability is Rock solid, you know what I’m saying?

 

[Brad805]

I think this is the point where the thread needs to conclude. Nothing good will come of further discussions down this path. We have all heard all the arguments.

I would add that Ron has added a lot of helpful notes from his perspective since joining, and done a lot to add nuance to all of our understandings of wood truss design/fabrication/production. It is best not to make any judgements based on a single calc using minimal input if you agree or disagree with the points made.